Speakers

Alom Shaha – Young Atheist, Humanist and Science Educator

Alom Shaha is a science teacher, writer, and filmmaker, who has spent most of his professional life sharing his passion for science and education with the public. Alom has produced, directed, and appeared in a number of television programmes, and has received fellowships from the National Endowment for Science, Technology, and the Arts (NESTA) and the Nuffield Foundation. Alom has been a local councillor, a school governor and volunteered for other charitable organisations. He was born in Bangladesh, but mostly grew up in the Elephant & Castle in London He teaches Physics at a comprehensive school in London and writes for a number of print and online publications. He is the author of The Young Atheist’s Handbook.

Richy Thompson is Campaigns Officer for Faith Schools and Education at the British Humanist Association.

Richy Thompson – BHA Faith Schools Campaigner

Richy graduated from the University of Oxford in 2010 with a Masters in Computer Science. While a student there he founded and was the first President of Oxford Atheists, Secularists and Humanists, and also coordinated the first Oxford Think Week. He subsequently became Press Officer of the National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies (AHS), and in July 2010 was elected as the third President. He simultaneously became a campaigns volunteer at the BHA as well as the European Humanist Federation, before becoming the BHA’s Faith Schools and Education Campaigner in May 2011.

NWhumanists

united on purpose

What the world most needs at this moment is a means of convincing human beings to embrace the whole of the species as their moral community. For this we need to develop an utterly non-sectarian way of talking about the full spectrum of human experience and human aspiration. We need a discourse on ethics and spirituality that is every bit as unconstrained by dogma and cultural prejudice as the discourse of science is.

Conference Objectives:

• To help participants move forward in living their lives as Humanists

• To enthuse participants with the message that we have something important and worthwhile to offer the world

• To help promote knowledge of the value and values of Humanism to the wider community

• To meet old friends again, and perhaps to make new ones

Notes for participants:

Special acoustic boards have been installed in the main hall at the St Thomas Centre which have solved the echo problem we experienced in 2011

We encourage you to come to the Friday evening session – a great ice-breaker which will help you get the most out of the conference. The Britons Protection lacks disabled access but is a more suitable venue than the Waldorf, where this session was held in 2011

We have opted for facilitated get-togethers for dinner on the Saturday evening, as we cannot hold a conference dinner at the St Thomas Centre. We will do our best to improve on the 2011 arrangements – more information to follow

David has been actively involved in the Humanist movement since 1961 when he joined the Oxford University Humanist Group at a time when it was the largest society in the university and attracted considerable attention in the national press. He went on to serve on the boards of both the British Humanist Association and the Rationalist Association (which publishes New Humanist magazine). He was President of the European Humanist Federation from 2006 to 2012; chaired the Advisory Board to the European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics; and set up the network of Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) known as the Alliance for a Secular Europe. He currently represents the International Humanist and Ethical Union at the Council of Europe. He takes a special interest in public policy and campaigning, particularly on the place of religion and belief in society in a context of human rights, equality and non-discrimination. He has written on various aspects of the subject, and has spoken at EU, European Parliament and Council of Europe conferences.

Sara has responsibility for promoting understanding of Humanism, including through an educational setting, and for promoting the BHA to diverse audiences.

The day before battle – Operation Bluecoat, Normandy 29 July 1944

“There are no atheists in foxholes” is an adage or proverb used to argue that in times of extreme stress or fear, such as in war, all people will believe in, or hope for, a higher power. It is simply not true.

The UK Armed Forces Humanist Association (UKAFHA) represets a growing body of servicemen and women, their families, veterans and civilian members of the Ministry of Defence who do not hold religious beliefs, and who share the values of Humanism.

Robin Crosse of the UKAFHA will provide an introduction to the organisation and its work, and will describe some of the special challenges faced by non-religious members of our armed forces.

The BHA has launched a very positive pilot project to provide emotional and moral support to non-religious prisoners: Humanist Pastoral Support in Prisons.

The project is the inspiration of our speaker and BHA member Amy Walden, a Probation Officer seconded to the Prison Service from Hampshire Probation trust. Amy works at Winchester Prison where over 40% of the prison’s 700 inmates are registered as having no religion.

A Prisoner

“The Prison Service has an obligation to ask prisoners about their religious beliefs and to provide access to a chaplaincy service and prayer or worship place”, Amy explains.”Chaplains are important when prisoners with religion are going through bad times, such as when a family member or loved-one dies or when their partner or children no longer want anything to do with them. But, there is no equivalent service dedicated to non-religious prisoners. When they need solace, emotional support or moral guidance they are offered the use of chaplains.”

Amy will describe the work she has pioneered with the help of the BHA and member and philosopher Dr Brendan Larvor to introduce a pastoral care service for all non-religious prisoners in Winchester Prison.

Accommodation

There is no accommodation included in the price of the conference, and none available at the venue. There are numerous options nearby: hostels, hotels, and even apartments, which could be cost effective if shared by a group. Laterooms.com is a useful resource, as is Hostelbookers.com.

Humanism in Action – Gay and Lesbian Humanists March with Pride for Equality

Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer. Only connect, and the beast and the monk, robbed of the isolation that is life to either, will die.
E M Forster, Howards End (1910)

NWhumanists

united on purpose

What the world most needs at this moment is a means of convincing human beings to embrace the whole of the species as their moral community. For this we need to develop an utterly non-sectarian way of talking about the full spectrum of human experience and human aspiration. We need a discourse on ethics and spirituality that is every bit as unconstrained by dogma and cultural prejudice as the discourse of science is.